Pipeline H&S Requirement

Licensed copy from CIS: bveurope, Black & Veatch Ltd, 31/10/2012, Uncontrolled Copy.
A single copy of this document is licensed to
bveurope
On
31/10/2012
This is an uncontrolled copy. Ensure use of the

most current version of the document by searching
the Construction Information Service.
Safety Regulations 1996

A guide to the Pipelines
© Crown copyright 1996
Applications for reproduction should be made to HMSO
First published 1996
ISBN 0 7176 1182 5
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may

be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or
transmitted in any form or by any means
(electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording
or otherwise) without the prior written permission
of the copyright owner.
This guidance is issued by the Health and Safety

Executive (HSE). Following the guidance is not
compulsory and you are free to take other action.
But if you do follow the guidance you will normally
be doing enough to comply with the law. Health
and safety inspectors seek to ensure compliance
with the law and may refer to this guidance as
illustrating good practice.
Cover photograph courtesy of AMEC plc and

reproduced with permission of Northern
Photographic Services Ltd
(ii)
Contents Preface iv
Introduction 1
Part I Introduction 2
Regulation 1 Citation and commencement 2
Regulation 2 Interpretation 2
Regulation 3 Meaning of “pipeline” 3
Regulation 4 Application 8
Part II General 9
Regulation 5 Design of a pipeline 9

Regulation 6 Safety systems 10
Regulation 7 Access for examination and maintenance 11
Regulation 8 Materials 11
Regulation 9 Construction and installation 11
Regulation 10 Work on a pipeline 12
Regulation 11 Operation of a pipeline 13
Regulation 12 Arrangements for incidents and emergencies 13
Regulation 13 Maintenance 14
Regulation 14 Decommissioning 14
Regulation 15 Damage to pipeline 15
Regulation 16 Prevention of damage to pipelines 15
Regulation 17 Co-operation 16
Part III Major accident hazard pipelines 17

Regulation 18 Dangerous fluids 17
Regulation 19 Emergency shut-down valves 17
Regulation 20 Notification before construction 18
Regulation 21 Notification before use 19
Regulation 22 Notification in other cases 20
Regulation 23 Major accident prevention document 21
Regulation 24 Emergency procedures 25
Regulation 25 Emergency plans in case of major accidents 26
Regulation 26 Charge by a local authority for a plan 28
Regulation 27 Transitional provision 29
Part IV Miscellaneous 30
Regulation 28 Defence 30
Regulation 29 Certificates of exemption 31
Regulation 30 Repeal of provisions of the Pipe-lines Act 1962 31
Regulation 31 Revocation and modification of instruments 31
Schedule 1 Pipelines to which these Regulations do not apply 33

Schedule 2 Descriptions of dangerous fluids 33
Schedule 3 Requirements for emergency shut-down valves on certain
major accident hazard pipelines connected to offshore
installations 36
Schedule 4 Particulars to be included in notification relating to
construction of a major accident hazard pipeline 38
Schedule 5 Particulars to be notified before certain events relating to
major accident hazard pipelines 39
Schedule 6 Revocation and modification 41
(iii)
Preface This guide to the Pipelines Safety Regulations 1996 (SI 1996/825) is intended
to help pipeline operators and others involved with pipeline activities or who
may be affected by the Regulations to understand what the Regulations
require.
Environmental considerations
The Pipelines Safety Regulations 1996, made under the Health and Safety at
Work etc Act 1974, do not cover the environmental aspects of accidents arising
from pipelines. However the Regulations, by ensuring that a pipeline is
designed, constructed and operated safely, provide a means of securing pipeline
integrity, thereby reducing risks to the environment.
It is important that effects on the environment are considered at all stages in

the life cycle of a pipeline.
Most large onshore pipeline projects require an assessment to be carried out

which is designed to identify the likely impact of a project on the environment,
to determine the significance of that impact and to establish mechanisms which
will minimise any adverse impact. The Electricity and Pipeline Works
(Assessment of Environmental Effects) Regulations 1990 apply to cross-
country pipelines as defined under the Pipelines Act 1962 (PA62) and detail
the procedures to be followed when considering the need for an environmental
statement to accompany an application for a pipeline construction
authorisation from the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry. The Town
and Country Planning (Assessment of Environmental Effects) Regulations
1988 apply to PA62 local pipelines.
The Environment Agency (or its Scottish equivalent the Scottish Environment
Protection Agency) issues good practice guidance on how the operators’
responsibilities under duty of care can best be met. The Water Resources Act
199 1 gives the agencies powers of prosecution in the event of any spillages
resulting in the pollution of watercourses.
Environmental aspects of offshore pipelines are addressed in the Pipelines

Works Authorisations, issued by the Department of Trade and Industry,
through the provisions of the Petroleum and Submarine Pipelines Act 1975.
For offshore pipelines with a diameter greater than 800 mm and a length of
more than 40 km an environmental impact assessment will soon need to be
carried out once the Environmental Impact Directive is implemented.
Information on design and construction
The Health and Safety Commission (HSC) has issued an informal discussion
document to consider ways of ensuring that pipeline operators can comply with
their duties through the provision of design and construction information.
(iv)
Introduction 1 This booklet gives guidance on the Pipelines Safety Regulations 1996,
which came into force on 11 April 1996. For convenience, the text of each
regulation is included in italics, with the appropriate guidance immediately
below. Where regulations are self-explanatory, no comment is offered.
2 The Pipelines Safety Regulations (referred to as ‘the Regulations’ in this

guidance) replace earlier prescriptive legislation on the management of pipeline
safety with a more integrated, goal-setting, risk-based approach encompassing
both onshore and offshore pipelines. They revoke various requirements which
had become unnecessary.
3 The Regulations complement other onshore and offshore regulations.

Offshore they complement the new regime for offshore health and safety
legislation at the heart of which lies the Offshore Installations (Safety Case)
Regulations 1992 (SI 1992/2885). Onshore they complement the regulations
dealing with extending competition to the domestic gas market including the
Gas Safety (Management) Regulations 1996 (SI 1996/551). The Pipelines
Safety Regulations cover:
(a) the definition of a pipeline;
(b) the general duties for all pipelines;
(c) the need for co-operation among pipeline operators;
(d) arrangements to prevent damage to pipelines;
(e) consequential amendments to other regulations (eg repeal of sections of

the Pipelines Act 1962 and the revocation of three sets of regulations and
parts of three further sets of regulations);
and for major accident hazard pipelines they cover:
(f) the description of a dangerous fluid;
(g) the requirement for emergency shut-down valves (ESDVs) at offshore

installations;
(h) the notifications structure;
(i) the major accident prevention document;
(j) the arrangements for emergency plans;
(k) the transitional arrangements.
Scope of the Regulations
4 The Regulations apply to all pipelines in Great Britain, and to all

pipelines in territorial waters and the UK Continental Shelf. Schedule 1 lists
the pipelines to which these Regulations do not apply. Detailed guidance to
Schedule 1 is given in the commentary on the Schedule.
1
Part I Introduction
Citation and commencement

These Regulations may be cited as the Pipelines Safety Regulations 1996 and shall
come into force on 11th April 1996.
Interpretation
(1) In these Regulations, unless the context otherwise requires -
“dangerous fluid” has the meaning given by regulation 18(2);
5 The definition of dangerous fluid in the Regulations is widely drawn; the

fluids covered are contained in Schedule 2 which lists the dangerous fluids by
generic category and, where appropriate, the conditions under which they are
conveyed.
“emergency shut-down valve” means a valve which is capable of adequately blocking

the flow of fluid within the pipeline at the point at which it is incorporated;
6 Regulation 19 requires emergency shut-down valves (ESDVs) to be fitted

to certain pipelines connected to offshore installations. An ESDV should be
capable of stopping the flow of fluid within the pipeline. However, minor
internal leakage past the ESDV may be accepted providing it does not
represent a threat to safety. The rate of leakage should be based on the
installation’s ability to control safely the hazards produced by such a leak.
“the Executive” means the Health and Safety Executive;
“fluid” includes a mixture of fluids;
“local authority” means -
(a) in relation to England, a county council, a council having the functions of

a county council, the London Fire and Civil Defence Authority, a
metropolitan county fire and civil defence authority, or the Council for the
Isles of Scilly;
(b) in relation to Scotland, the councilfor a local government area; and
(c) in relation to Wales, a county council or a county borough council;
7 Regulations 25 and 26 relate to emergency plans to be prepared by local

authorities. This duty falls to the local emergency planning authority; in the
case of metropolitan authorities this rests with the appropriate metropolitan
county fire and civil defence authority. In Scotland, where regional councils
were replaced by unitary authorities on 1 April 1996, the preparation of
emergency plans rests with the local unitary authority.
“major accident” means death or serious injury involving a dangerous fluid;
8 The term ‘major accident’ appears in a number of places in these

Regulations. In particular, the judgement whether there is the potential to cause
a major accident will determine the range of hazards identified, and the risks to
be evaluated, under regulations 23(l)(a) and (b) and will determine the scope of
emergency procedures and plans prepared under regulations 24 and 25.
2
9 A major accident would cover death or serious injury from a fire,
explosion or uncontrolled emission from a pipeline. This includes both events
which have escalated beyond the control of the normal operating envelope of
the pipeline and those resulting from third party interference. Whether an event
leads to serious danger to people will depend on factors specific to the incident.
Major accidents to people can be distinguished from other accidents by the
severity of the injuries, the number of casualties, or by the physical extent of
the damage in areas where people may be present. The risk strategy needs to
address fully the potential for any major accident.
“major accident hazard pipeline” has the meaning given by regulation 18(1);
10 A ‘major accident hazard pipeline’ is one which conveys a dangerous fluid

which has the potential to cause a major accident.
“operator”, in relation to apipeline means -
(a) the person who is to have or (once fluid is conveyed) has control over the
conveyance offluid in the pipeline;
(b) until that person is known (should there be a case where at a material
time he is not yet known) the person who is to commission or (where
commissioning has started) commissions the design and construction ofthe
pipeline;
(c) when a pipeline is no longer, or is notfor the time being used, the person
last having control over the conveyance of fluid in it.
11 The operator of the pipeline is the person who has control of the pipeline
at any time during all stages of its life cycle from the design stage through to
final decommissioning.
12 Until the person who is to have control of the conveyance of fluid is

known, the operator is the person who commissions the design of the pipeline
or (where such work has started) the person who commissioned the design.
“pipeline” shall be construed in accordance with regulation 3.
(2) Unless the contextotherwise requires, any reference in these Regulations to -
(a) a numbered regulation or Schedule is a reference to the regulation or

Schedule in these Regulations so numbered; and
(b) a numbered paragraph is reference to the paragraph so numbered in the

regulation or Schedule in which the reference appears.
Meaning of “pipeline”
(1) Subject to theprovisions of this regulation, in these Regulations “pipeline”
means a pipe or system of pipes (together with any apparatus and works, of a kind
described in paragraph (2), associated with it) for the conveyance of any fluid, not
being -
(a) a drain or sewer;
(b) a pipe or system ofpipes constituting or comprised in apparatus for heating

or cooling orfor domestic purposes;
3
(c) a pipe (not being apparatus described in paragraph (2) (e)) which is used
in the control or monitoring of any plant.
(2) The apparatus and works referred to in paragraph (1) are -
(a) any apparatus for inducing or facilitating the flow of any fluid through, or
through a part of, the pipe or system;
(b) any apparatus for treating or cooling any fluid which is to flow through,
or through part of, the pipe or system;
(c) valves, valve chambers and similar works which are annexed to, or
incorporated in the course of, the pipe or system;
(d) apparatus for supplying energy for the operation of any such apparatus or
works as are mentioned in the preceding sub-paragraphs;
(e) apparatus for the transmission of information for the operation of the pipe
orsystem;
(f) apparatus for the cathodic protection of the pipe or system; and
(g) a structure used or to be used solely for the support of a part of the pipe or
system.
13 This regulation defines what is meant by a pipeline. Drains and sewers

including liquid effluent outfalls which discharge into a river or estuary are not
considered to be pipelines for the purposes of these Regulations.
14 These Regulations do not apply to pipelines which form part of control

monitoring equipment such as small bore pipes or tubes normally bundled
together with cables, wires, etc to form an ‘umbilical’ used for hydraulic control
or signalling purposes.
15 However, new designs of ‘umbilicals’ are appearing with pipes within the
bundle which are larger in diameter and are used for the conveyance of fluids
for purposes other than control or monitoring. It is likely that future designs
may include pipes of considerable diameter or even a number of ‘large’
diameter pipelines bundled together. Even though the basic design and
structure of these new systems may be similar to umbilicals, they will be
considered to be pipelines and will be subject to the requirements of these
Regulations.
16 These Regulations cover pipelines used for the conveyance of fluid.

Electrical equipment such as high voltage cable systems which utilise fluid
under pressure for circuit integrity and are self-contained are excluded from the
scope of these Regulations.
(3) For the purpose of sub-paragraph (c) ofparagraph (2) a valve, valve
chamber or similar work shall be deemed to be annexed to, or incorporated in the
course of, a pipe or system where it connects the pipe or system to plant, an offshore
installation, or a well.
17 Regulation 3(3) defines the interface between plant, an offshore

installation or a well and the pipeline.
18 Figures 1 to 7 give examples of different interfaces and illustrate the limits

of pipelines covered by these Regulations.
4
Note: The diagrams in Figures 1 to 7 are for illustrative purposes only - they are not proper representations
of actual pipeline systems.
19 Pig traps connected to a pipeline, used for either launching or receiving
pigs or for facilitating other equipment to be run through a pipeline, are
included within the scope of the Regulations. The pig itself, or other
equipment run through a pipeline, is not considered to be part of the pipeline.
20 For pipelines connected to onshore plant, the limit of the pipeline is the
primary shut-off valve which connects the pipeline to the plant or the primary
valve(s) off the pig trap, where fitted, which connects the pipeline to the plant.
Process plant facilities and pipework beyond the primary shut-off valve are not
covered by these Regulations.
21 On an offshore installation the limit of the pipeline is up to and including

the emergency shut-down valve or primary shut-off valve(s) off the pig trap,
where fitted, which connects the pipeline to the installation.
22 Although apparatus for inducing or facilitating flow is included in the

definition of a pipeline, where such apparatus is not incorporated in the
pipeline system itself, for example compressors on an offshore installation, then
such apparatus is not covered by these Regulations.
(4) A pipeline for supplying gas to premises shall be deemed not to include
anything downstream of an emergency control.
(5) In this regulation -
“emergency control” means a valve for shutting off the supply of gas in an emergency,
being a valve intended for use by a consumer of gas;
“gas” has the same meaning as it has in Part I of the Gas Act 1986(a).
(a) 1986 c. 44.
23 For pipelines supplying gas as defined by the Gas Act 1986 to consumers,
the limit of the pipeline in these Regulations is the emergency control.
Application
(1) Subject to paragraph (2), these Regulations shall apply -
(a) in Great Britain; and
(b) to and in relation to pipelines and activities outside Great Britain to

which sections 1 to 59 and 80 to 82 of the 1974 Act apply by virtue of
article 6 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (Application
outside Great Britain) Order 1995(b).
(2) These Regulations shall not apply to any pipeline or part of a pipeline
which is described in Schedule 1.
(b) SI 1995/263.
24 This regulation defines the scope of the requirements as pipelines in

Great Britain, and all pipelines in territorial waters and the UK Continental
Shelf. Schedule 1 lists the pipelines to which these Regulations do not apply.
Detailed guidance to Schedule 1 is given in the commentary on the Schedule.
8
(3) In the case of a pipeline to which the Pressure Systems and Transportable
Gas Containers Regulations 1989(a) apply, nothing in these Regulations shall require
the taking of any measures to the extent that they are for the prevention of danger
within the meaning of those Regulations.
(a) SI 1989/2169.
25 The Pressure Systems and Transportable Gas Container Regulations

1989 (PSTGCR) apply to onshore pipelines which constitute a ‘pressure
system’ where the operating pressure is greater than 3 bar absolute (2 bar
gauge) and conveying a relevant fluid. The regulations address in some detail
pipeline hazards resulting from the stored energy of the fluid conveyed. Where
measures are taken in compliance of PSTGCR to prevent danger within the
meaning of those regulations, there will be no requirement for duplication of
these measures through the Pipelines Safety Regulations.
Part II General
Design of a pipeline
The operator shall ensure that no fluid is conveyed in a pipeline unless it has been so
designed that, so far as is reasonably practicable, it can withstand -
(a) forces arisingfrom its operation;
(b) the fluids that may be conveyed in it; and
(c) the externalforces and the chemical processes to which it may be subjected.
26 The purpose of this regulation is to ensure that the design of a pipeline, or

any modification to it, takes into account the operating regime for the pipeline,
the conditions under which the fluid is to be conveyed as well as the
environment to which the pipeline will be subjected.
27 The pipeline, or any modification to it, should be designed so that it is

safe within the range of operating conditions to which it could be reasonably
subjected. In the pipeline design, account should be taken of the maximum and
minimum operating temperatures and of the maximum operating pressure of
the pipeline. Account should also be taken of the nature of the fluid being
conveyed, for example, corrosive, abrasive or chemical effects. The possibility
of any subsequent changes in the fluid to be transported, or in the condition
under which it is to be transported should be considered at the design stage.
28 The external forces and the chemical processes to which the pipeline will
be subjected will need to be identified and evaluated. Account should be taken
of the pipeline location and its susceptibility to damage. This may include
consideration of the physical and chemical actions of the environment in which
the pipeline is to be located and the terrain, subterrain or seabed conditions.
Account should be taken of foreseeable mechanical and thermal stresses and
strains to which the pipeline may be subjected during its operation.
29 It is also important that the forces to which the pipeline is to be subjected

during its construction are taken into account in its design.
9
30 Any change to the fluid conveyed will need a reassessment of the pipeline
design to ensure that the pipeline is capable of conveying the fluid safely.
31 The design and location of the pipeline should take account of the hazard
potential of the fluid being conveyed. Consideration should be given to routes
which will minimise the possibility of external damage. Extra protection may be
required to prevent damage from other conditions such as road and river
crossings, long self-supported spans and structural movements.
32 In general, British Standards provide a sound basis for the design of

pipelines. Other national or international standards (eg a relevant standard or
code of practice of a national standards body or equivalent body of any
member state of the European Union) are likely to be acceptable provided the
proposed standard, code of practice, technical specification or procedure
provides equivalent levels of safety.
33 For low pressure natural gas polyethylene pipelines (operating below 8

bar absolute), technical guidance in the form of recommendations from the
Institution of Gas Engineers offers standards recognised across the industry in
IGE/TD 3: 1992 Edition 3: Distribution mains and IGE/TD 4: 1994 Edition 3:
Gas services. The design of gas service pipelines is specifically addressed in the
HSE Approved Code of Practice and guidance entitled Design, construction and
installation of gas service pipes (ISBN 0 7 176 1172 8).
Safety systems
The operator shall ensure that no fluid is conveyed in a pipeline unless it has been
provided with such safety systems as are necessary for securing that, so far as is
reasonably practicable, persons are protectedfrom risk to their health or safety.
34 The pipeline should be provided with such safety systems, as necessary,

to protect people from risk. Safety systems cover means of protection such as
emergency shut-down valves and shut-off valves which operate on demand or
fail safe in the closed position, so minimising loss of containment of the
pipeline inventory. Safety systems also include devices provided which prevent
the safe operating limits being exceeded, for example pressure relief valves.
35 Safety systems are not meant to cover all control or measuring devices.
However, safety systems do include control or monitoring equipment, such as
flow detectors and pressure monitors, which have to function properly in order
to protect the pipeline or to secure its safe operation.
36 Safety systems also include leak detection systems where they are
provided to secure the safe operation of the pipeline. The method chosen for
leak detection should be appropriate for the fluid conveyed and operating
conditions.
37 Interlock arrangements may be provided as safety systems, particularly

where they prevent inadvertent operation. For example, valve interlocks may be
used in conjunction with bleed devices on pig trap door mechanisms to prevent
opening up under pressure.
10
Access for examination and maintenance
The operator shall ensure that no fluid is conveyed in a pipeline unless it has been so
designed that, so far as is reasonably practicable, it may be examined and work of
maintenance may be carried out safely.
38 The design of the pipeline should take due account of the need to
facilitate examination and maintenance. Consideration should be given at the
design stage to any requirement to provide suitable and safe access and
operation for in-service inspections, such as pigging.
Materials
The operator shall ensure that no fluid is conveyed in a pipeline unless it is composed
of materials which are suitable.
39 This regulation requires that all materials of construction specified in the

design of, and in any subsequent modifications to, the pipeline should be
suitable for the intended purpose. This requirement applies not only to the
pipeline but also to the associated equipment.
40 The material of construction should be able to withstand the physical and

chemical conditions of the fluid to be conveyed under the operating conditions
for which the pipeline has been designed. Any changes to the fluid conveyed or
the operating conditions of the pipeline, including an extension of the pipeline
design life, will warrant a reassessment of the pipeline material to ensure it is
capable of conveying the fluid safely.
41 Changes in operating conditions include changes to the corrosion

protection system which may well affect corrosion rates and therefore the
design life of the pipeline.
Construction and installation

The operator shall ensure that no fluid is conveyed in a pipeline (save for the purpose
of testing it) unless it has been so constructed and installed that, so far as is reasonably
practicable, it is sound and fit for the purpose for which it has been designed.
42 The purpose of this regulation is to ensure that a pipeline which has been
properly designed, is fabricated, constructed and installed in a manner to
reflect that design. During the installation, design considerations such as the
location of the pipeline, depth of cover, need for supports or anchors, and extra
protection at vulnerable locations should be adhered to.
43 Suitable procedures should be developed for the construction and

installation of the pipeline. Pipe-laying techniques, appropriate to both the
location of the pipeline and the type of pipeline being laid should be used.
44 The regulation recognises that before a pipeline is brought into operation

it is common to allow the introduction of a fluid, commonly water, into the
pipeline to pressure test as part of the demonstration of its soundness and
fitness for purpose. Testing in this regulation includes precommissioning work
such as pressure testing, flushing or cleaning the pipeline, or other activities
which introduce fluids into the pipeline, prior to bringing it into use and the
use of intelligent pigs in carrying out a baseline inspection.
11
Relationship with other Regulations
Onshore Regulations
45 The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 1994 (CDM)

cover the health and safety management of construction projects by those who
contribute to the avoidance, reduction and control of health and safety risks
faced by construction workers, and others, when engaged on or affected by new
construction works. CDM covers the design of the pipeline in so far as the
design should take into account the safety of those carrying out the
construction (and any subsequent) maintenance work. Similarly, CDM covers
the safety management of those involved in the construction during the

construction stage, but does not cover the design and construction of the
pipeline for safe operation and use. This is covered by the Pipelines Safety
Regulations 1996.
46 The CDM Regulations only apply to the actual construction work of a

pipeline. Prefabrication work on a pipeline in a fabrication workshop or yard is
outside the scope of CDM.
Offshore Regulations
47 Offshore pipelines and pipeline works are subject to the general provisions
of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 (HSW Act) and HSW Act
Regulations, such as the Management of Health and Safety at Work
Regulations 1992 (MHSWR), which extend outside Great Britain.
48 This legislation is applied offshore by the Health and Safety at Work etc
Act 1974 (Application outside Great Britain) Order 1995. The activities
covered include: pipe-laying operations and associated work such as trenching;
the inspection, testing, maintenance, repair, alteration or renewal of pipelines;
and diving operations in connection with such works. MHSWR also extends to
the connected activities of loading, unloading, fuelling or provisioning vessels
engaged in pipeline works.
49 Employers of workers engaged in pipelines works or connected activities,

for example on pipelay barges, are also required under regulation 15(2) of the
Offshore Installations and Pipeline Works (Management and Administration)
Regulations 1995 to ensure that their workers know or have ready access to the
address and telephone number of the HSE office covering the sector in which
the pipeline works are taking place.
50 Thus, all occupational risks connected with offshore pipeline construction

works are subject to the HSW Act and the associated inspection and
enforcement regime.
Work on a pipeline
The operator shall ensure that modifcation, maintenance or other work on a pipeline
is carried out in such a way that its soundness and fitness for the purpose for which it
has been designed will not be prejudiced.
51 The purpose of this regulation is to ensure that any subsequent

modification, maintenance or other work, such as inspection, of a pipeline
should be carried out in such a way as not to affect detrimentally the pipeline's
continuing fitness for purpose.
12
Operation of a pipeline
The operator shall ensure that -
(a) no fluid is conveyed in a pipeline unless the safe operating limits of the
pipeline have been established; and
(b) a pipeline is not operated beyond its safe operating limits,
save for the purpose of testing it.
52 In order to operate the pipeline in a safe manner, the operator will need
to draw up safe operating limits, which reflect the pipeline design, its operating
history and its current and future condition, and ensure that it is operated and
controlled within these limits.
53 For pipelines, safe operating limits may be specified in terms of maximum

operating pressure and maximum and minimum temperature. In some cases
safe operating limits will also take into account such matters as fluid velocities
and any limits set on the composition of the fluid.
54 The regulation recognises that for the purposes of proof testing a pipeline
to ensure that it is sound and fit for purpose, it is often necessary to test the
pipeline to pressures beyond its maximum allowable operating pressure, the
safe operating limit.
Arrangements for incidents and emergencies

The operator shall ensure that no fluid is conveyed in a pipeline unless adequate
arrangements have been made for dealing with -
(a) an accidental loss offluid from;
(b) discovery of a defect in or damage to; or
(c) other emergency affecting,
the pipeline.
55 This regulation requires that adequate arrangements are in place in the

event of an incident or emergency relating to the pipeline. In particular
arrangements should be in place for loss of containment and for discovery of
damage to, or a defect in, the pipeline which requires immediate attention or
action. The detail and scope of the arrangements will vary according to the type
of pipeline, its location and the fluid being conveyed. Where a defect in, or
damage to, a pipeline is found which could affect the safety of the pipeline, but
not requiring immediate attention, then consideration will be needed of
appropriate action in such circumstances.
56 In some circumstances it may be necessary for arrangements to be in

place for emergencies which may have an affect on the pipeline. For example,
arrangements should be in place covering an emergency on an offshore
installation which may affect connected pipeline(s).
Onshore Regulations
57 In the case of gas pipelines subject to the Gas Safety (Management)
13
Regulations 1996, these arrangements for incidents and emergencies may be
referred to in the gas transporter’s or network emergency co-ordinator’s safety
case.
58 Regulation 8 of the Offshore Installations (Prevention of Fire, Explosion

and Emergency Response) Regulations 1995 requires the installation operator
to draw up an emergency response plan for the installation and this should
cover the arrangements in place for emergencies which may affect the
connected pipeline.
Maintenance
The operator shall ensure that a pipeline is maintained in an efficient state, in efficient
working order and in good repair.
59 This regulation deals with the requirement to maintain the pipeline to

secure its safe operation and to prevent loss of containment. Maintenance is
essential to ensure that the pipeline remains in a safe condition and is fit for
purpose.
60 The operator needs to consider maintenance and inspection requirements

for the pipeline. Examination and monitoring of the pipeline are part of routine
maintenance. The operator needs to consider both how and when the pipeline
should be surveyed and examined to validate and maintain it in a safe
condition.
61 The extent of the work done to maintain a pipeline will depend on its
material of construction, its location, the fluid conveyed and the condition
under which it is operated. For example, for low pressure gas distribution and
service pipelines onshore, the operator should monitor the pipeline to secure its
safe operation. For major accident hazard pipelines, the maintenance plan
should form part of the pipeline’s safety management system.
62 It is important to recognise that a pipeline includes associated equipment

such as valves, bridles and other primary attachments. It may also include
launch and reception pig traps. These should be maintained, as necessary, to
ensure that they are kept in efficient working order. Maintenance under this
regulation also includes maintaining any safety system associated with the
pipeline which has been provided to secure its safe operation.
63 A pipeline which is out of service should also be maintained in a safe

condition; if it has been out of service for a significant period of time, detailed
assessment of the condition of the pipeline will be necessary to ensure fitness
for purpose before returning it to service.
Decommissioning
(1) The operator shall ensure that a pipeline which has ceased to be usedfor
the conveyance of any fluid is left in a safe condition.
64 Pipelines should be decommissioned in a manner so as not to become a

source of danger. Once a pipeline has come to the end of its useful life, it
should be either dismantled and removed or left in a safe condition.
Consideration should be given to the physical separation and isolation of the
pipeline. It may be necessary to purge or clean the pipeline; due consideration
should be given to the hazardous properties of any fluid conveyed in the
pipeline or introduced during the decommissioning.
14
65 D e p e n d i n g o n the physical dimensions o f a n onshore pipeline a n d i t s
location, u n d e r the general provisions o f the HSW Act, it m a y b e necessary t o
consider the risk of the pipeline corroding a n d causing subsidence or acting as
a channel f o r water o r gases.
6 6 Offshore, pipelines should b e either dismantled and removed o r left in a

condition where they will b e n o t become a source o f danger t o people. I t i s
likely that the riser section o f a n offshore pipeline will b e dismantled. However,
the extent o f the obligation t o remove the remainder o f the pipeline will depend
o n the diameter o f the pipeline, i t s location o n the seabed, i t s stability and o n
subsea conditions. I t should b e n o t e d in t h i s context that the decommissioning
(in statutory language, abandonment) o f offshore pipelines i s also subject t o
a n d regulated by the Petroleum A c t 1987 a n d should b e discussed w i t h the

D e p a r t m e n t o f T r a d e a n d Industry, whose formal approval for
decommissioning programmes i s required before they can b e implemented.
I (2) The operator of pipeline shall ensure that work done in discharge of the
duty contained in paragraph (1) is performed safely.
I 67 W o r k done in carrying o u t the final decommissioning o f a pipeline should

be done in a safe and controlled manner.
Damage to pipeline
I N o person shall cause such damage to a pipeline as may give rise to a danger to
persons.
68 This regulation applies to the operator of the pipeline, for example when
carrying out maintenance on the pipeline, to ensure that the pipeline does not
sustain damage through his actions which could give rise to danger to people.
Equally this regulation applies to the actions of third parties since interference
is the main cause of damage to pipelines leading to loss of containment.
69 In many cases the damage to a pipeline by a third party is accidental; it is

important that such damage is reported to the pipeline operator. Failure to
notify damage to a pipeline which ultimately affects the safety of others could
be a breach o f the H S W Act. Some third party incidents may not appear to
have caused obvious or serious damage, however, these incidents should still be
reported to the pipeline operator as the pipeline may have been weakened or its
integrity impaired in some other way, eg damage t o i t s corrosion protection
coating.
70 It is important that the location of onshore pipelines, and in particular

underground pipelines, is considered when carrying out building, excavation or
dumping or other such work, as such activities may either cause damage to
pipelines or deny access to them for maintenance purposes.
71 Similarly, when carrying out vessel or anchoring activities offshore the

location of offshore pipelines should be considered. Information regarding the
1
~
location of offshore pipelines is normally available from the Hydrographer of

the Navy and included on Admiralty charts.
Prevention o f damage to pipelines
For the purpose of ensuring that no damage is caused to a pipeline, the operator shall
take such steps to inform persons of its existence and whereabouts as are reasonable.
15
72 It is important that third parties are made aware of the presence of a
pipeline, and that information is available, where appropriate, regarding the
location of the pipeline. For instance, where street work is to be undertaken
information on the location of underground services including pipelines will be
required. On request, pipeline operators should be able to give approximate
locations of pipelines, usually in the form of plans.
73 Because of the problems associated with identification of underground

pipelines, parallel running of similar pipelines in the street should be avoided;
where it is unavoidable, consideration should be given to means of identifying
each pipeline such as with coloured plastic marker tape or indicator tape
incorporating a metallic tracer wire. A colour coded identification system used
by utilities and local authorities is set out in the National Joint Utilities Group
publication No 4 The identification of small buried mains and services April 1995.
74 The operator shall take reasonable steps to inform people of the existence
of the pipeline and its whereabouts, and for major accident hazard pipelines
there should be regular contact with owners/occupiers and tenants of the land
through which the pipeline passes. This should include supplying information
on the route of the pipeline.
75 Depending on the fluid conveyed, the pipeline location and the

conditions under which it is conveyed, it may be appropriate to consider
periodic surveying of its route to check on activities which might affect the
pipeline.
76 Offshore, damage to pipelines may arise from fishing activities and

anchoring. Consideration should be given to reducing the potential for damage
to offshore pipelines by use of concrete coating, trenching, burial, protection
structures or mattresses etc.
77 As part of the offshore Pipeline Works Authorisation issued by the

Department of Trade and Industry under the Petroleum and Submarine
Pipelines Act 1975, information regarding the location of offshore pipelines is
normally passed to the Hydrographer of the Navy for inclusion on Admiralty
charts.
Co-operation
Where there are different operators for different parts of a pipeline, each operator shall
co-operate with the other sofar as is necessary to enable the operators to comply with
the requirements ofthese Regulations.
78 This regulation places a duty on operators of different parts of a pipeline

or a pipeline system to co-operate with other operators of that pipeline or
system, where appropriate, to enable each of them to fulfil their duties under
these Regulations. It does not mean that an operator of part of a pipeline can
evade his own responsibilities by seeking to pass them to others. If an operator
is capable of complying with a duty unaided, then the co-operation duty does
not come into play. However, it is likely that where a pipeline or pipeline
system has different operators for different parts of it, co-operation between
each operator will be required in ensuring the health and safety of people or
activities involving the pipeline.
16
Part III Major accident hazard pipelines
Dangerous fluids
(1) The provisions contained in regulations 19 to 27 shall apply in relation to
a pipeline in which a dangerous fluid is being, or is to be conveyed (in these
Regulations referred to as a “major accident hazard pipeline”).
79 This regulation defines the pipelines with the potential to cause a major
hazard accident which attract the additional duties under these Regulations:
emergency shut-down valves, notifications, the preparation of a major accident
prevention document, the preparation of emergency procedures and the

preparation of an emergency plan by the local authority.
(2) For the purpose of these Regulations a fluid is a dangerous fluid if it falls
within a description in Schedule 2.
80 Dangerous fluids which are brought within these requirements are listed
in Schedule 2. Detailed guidance about which fluids are described as
dangerous is given in the commentary on the Schedule.
Emergency shut-down valves

(1) The operator of a major accident hazard pipeline which -
(a) is connected to an offshore installation; and
(b) has an internal diameter of 40 millimetres or more,
shall ensure that the requirements contained in Schedule 3 are complied with in
relation to the pipeline.
81 Emergency shut-down valves (ESDVs) are required to be fitted to all

risers of major accident hazard pipelines of 40 mm or more in diameter at
offshore installations. Schedule 3 sets out the requirements for these ESDVs.
(2) The duty holder in relation to an offshore installation to which a pipeline

described in paragraph (1) is connected shall afford, or cause to be afforded, to the
operator of the pipeline such facilities as he may reasonably require for the purpose of
securing that the requirements contained in Schedule 3 are complied with in relation to
thepipeline.
“duty holder”, in relation to an offshore installation, means the person who is the duty
holder as defined by regulation 2(1) of the 1995 Regulations in relation to that
installation.
“the 1995 Regulations” means the Offshore Installations and Pipeline Works
Management and Administration) Regulations 1995(a).
(a) SI 1995/738.
82 This regulation places a duty on the duty holder in relation to the offshore
installation to provide the operator of the pipeline with such facilities as he
requires to fulfil his duties as set out in Schedule 3.
17
Notification before construction
The operator shall ensure that the construction of a major accident hazard pipeline is
not commenced unless he has notified to the Executive the particulars specified in
Schedule 4 at least 6 months, or such shorter time as the Executive may approve,
before such commencement.
83 This regulation requires the operator to notify HSE of certain details of a

proposed new pipeline prior to its construction. The intention is that this
notification should be made at the ‘end of the concept design’ stage, which will
normally be at least 6 months prior to the start of construction. The
notification must contain the information contained in Schedule 4. This

regulation only requires a notification to HSE; this does not place any
constraint on the operator to proceed to detailed design and construction.
84 This notification may form the first contact between the pipeline operator
and HSE; earlier contact may be helpful. This notification should be made at a
point where the design is sufficiently advanced to be able to set out, in general
terms, the particulars required in Schedule 4 but not so late that the company
has already committed itself to major expenditure. Once a pipeline has been
built, it is very difficult and extremely costly to make changes.
85 Only a limited amount of information about the pipeline is required at

this notification stage. Where some of the information cannot, at the time of
notification, be fully specified, notification to HSE should go ahead, together
with details of when the further information may be provided, by agreement
between the operator and HSE.
86 This notification is aimed at triggering HSE’s inspection arrangements

and it will provide the basis for the start of a dialogue between the pipeline
operator and HSE about arrangements to secure the proper construction and
safe operation of the pipeline. The intention behind the notification is to ensure
that HSE is made aware of the proposed pipeline before major expenditure has
been committed, since it is at this early stage that the most recent and best
practice of design, and use of materials, can be applied at least cost. The
information that is supplied will help HSE to form a view on appropriate
inspection arrangements.
87 The information to be supplied need only represent the particulars as far

as they have been developed by this stage. It is likely that there may be minor
changes to the information, however, where the changes are significant to the
level of risk of the pipeline, these further details should be supplied to HSE.
88 Although for major projects, this notification will be made at an early

stage and at least 6 months prior to the start of construction, there may be
cases when a shorter notification period will be appropriate. HSE will be
sympathetic to requests for shorter notification periods where good reason is
demonstrated.
89 This may apply offshore to shorter lengths of pipeline or small projects,

such as pipeline network extensions. There will also be cases which are a result
of operational demands such as where there is a requirement to construct a
pipeline from an installation for the purposes of well testing or evaluation.
Cases when shorter notification is appropriate need the approval of HSE.
90 A reduced period of notification may be approved for short onshore

pipelines, eg local pipelines to be built under section 2 of the Pipelines Act
18
1962, which may be viewed as relatively small projects where construction may
be required to start over a shorter scale than six months.
91 Notification shall contain the details listed in Schedule 4. Notification

should be sent to the appropriate office of HSE’s Chemical and Hazardous
Installations Division (CHID) in Aberdeen or Norwich (addresses below). As a
general guide, pipelines located in Scotland or in Scottish waters are covered by
the Aberdeen office, all other pipelines are covered by the Norwich office. Fax
or other electronic transmission arrangements are acceptable.
Health and Safety Executive (CHID) Health and Safety Executive (CHID)
Lord Cullen House 122A Thorpe Road
Fraser Place Norwich

Aberdeen AB25 3UB Norfolk NFU 1RN
Tel: 01224 252500 Tel: 01603 275000
Fax: 01224 252555 Fax: 01603 275055
92 This notification does not form part of the role HSE undertakes as a
consultee on the route of the pipeline for planning purposes. However, since
HSE is consulted on, and assesses the route of, major accident hazard
pipelines, both onshore and offshore, in practice the information required in
the notification under this regulation will also be required for HSE to assess the
route as a consultee.
Onshore pipelines
93 HSE is a consultee on the route of a land pipeline attracting the

additional duties. The Department of Trade and Industry consults HSE on the
route of cross-country pipelines and local planning authorities consult HSE on
the route of local pipelines under the Pipelines Act 1962.
94 Through the licence condition of a public gas transporter under the Gas
Act 1995, the route of high pressure gas pipelines need to be notified to HSE.
In cases where the route does not comply with specific guidelines, HSE should
be consulted on the proposed route.
Offshore pipelines
95 HSE is a consultee of the Department of Trade and Industry on the route

of a proposed new pipeline under the Petroleum and Submarine Pipelines Act
1975.
Notification before use

The operator shall ensure that no fluid is conveyed in a major accident hazard
pipeline, or conveyedfollowing a period in which it has been out of commission (other
than for routine maintenance), until the expiration of 14 days, or of such shorter
period as the Executive may in that case approve, from the receipt by it of a
notification of the date on which it is intended to convey or, as the case may be,
resume the conveyance offluid in the pipeline.
96 This notification, of the intention to bring the pipeline into use, is

required so that HSE is made aware that the dangerous fluid is to be
introduced into the pipeline.
19
97 A notification period of 14 days is required; though in exceptional
circumstances a shorter notification period may be permissible if agreed by
HSE.
98 This notification applies to the first introduction of the dangerous fluid

into the pipeline. However, this regulation also applies to circumstances where
the pipeline may have been taken out of commission (other than for routine
maintenance, planned or emergency repair) and is to be brought back into use.
99 It is not intended that notification of bringing back into use will be

required after it has been shut down for routine maintenance. Routine
maintenance includes work such as valve lubrication, maintenance of pig traps,
maintenance and replacement of cathodic protection equipment, function

testing of pipeline equipment and instrumentation, running repair work (slight
surface damage repairs, coating and wrapping repairs, rectification of spans
etc). However, in cases where the pipeline has been subject to major
modifications or remedial work which has been notified to HSE under
regulation 22, notification of bringing back into use is required.
100 Notification can be made in writing, by fax or by telephone to the

appropriate office of HSE’s Chemical and Hazardous Installations Division
(CHID) in Aberdeen or Norwich. Other electronic transmission arrangements
are also acceptable. Information should include the pipeline identification,
name of the operator/point of contact and date the pipeline is to be used for the
first time or reused.
Notification in other cases

(1) Where there is a change of operator of a major accident hazard pipeline,
or of his address, the operator shall notify any such change to the Executive within 14
daysthereafter.
(2) Subject to paragraph (3), in the case of a major accident hazard pipeline
the construction of which has commenced, or has been completed, the operator shall
ensure that no event of a kind described in Schedule 5 takes place until the expiration
of 3 months, or such shorter time as the Executive may in that case approve, from the
receipt by the Executive ofparticulars specified in that Schedule in relation to such
event.
(3) Where an event of a kind described in Schedule 5 takes place in an

emergency, the operator shall notify to the Executive the particulars specified in that
Schedule as soon as is reasonably practicable.
101 This regulation concerns any significant changes to the pipeline which
affect the level of risk. Notification to HSE is required of certain changes such
as changes in the operating regime, major modifications to the pipeline,
changes in fluid and cessation of use of the pipeline.
102 Schedule 5 sets out instances when notification is required; detailed

guidance is given in the commentary to the Schedule.
103 The notification should be made to HSE at completion of the concept

design for the change. The intention behind the 3-month notification period is
to ensure that HSE is made aware of the proposed changes to a pipeline once
the details have been established but before major expenditure has been
committed. The information that is supplied will help HSE to form a view on
appropriate inspection arrangements. However, urgent works may be carried
out with shorter notification periods with the approval of HSE.
20
104 Notification of change of the pipeline operator, or his address, should be
made within 14 days of the change being known.
105 Notification should be sent to the appropriate office of HSE’s Chemical

and Hazardous Installations Division (CHID) in Aberdeen or Norwich.
Notification in writing, by fax or other electronic transmission arrangements is
acceptable.
Major accident prevention document

(1) The operator shall, before the design of a major accident hazard pipeline is
completed prepare, and thereafter revise or replace as often as may be appropriate, a

document relating to the pipeline containing, subject to paragraph (2) sufficient
particulars to demonstrate that -
(a) all hazards relating to the pipeline with the potential to cause a major
accident have been identified;
(b) the risks arisingfrom those hazards have been evaluated;
(c) the safety management system is adequate; and
(d) he has established adequate arrangements for audit and for the making of
reports thereof.
(2) Paragraph (1) shall only require the particulars in the document referred
to in paragraph (1) to demonstrate the matters referred to in that paragraph to the
extent that it is reasonable to expect the operator to address them at the time the
document is prepared or revised.
(3) Where the document referred to in paragraph (1) describes any health and
safety arrangements orprocedures to befollowed, the operator shall ensure that those
arrangements orprocedures arefollowed unless in particular circumstances of the case
it is not in the best interests of the health and safety ofpersons to follow them, and
there has been insufficient time to revise or replace the document to take account of
those circumstances.
“audit” means systematic assessment of the adequacy of the safety management

system, carried out by persons who are sufficiently independent of the system (but who
may be employed by the operator) to ensure that such assessment is objective; and
“safety management system” means the organisation, arrangements and procedures

established by the operatorfor ensuring that the risk of a major accident is as low as is
reasonablypracticable.
106 This regulation deals with the operator’s overall aims and principles of
action for the control of the aspects of design, construction and installation,
operation, maintenance and final decommissioning which have a bearing on
the health and safety arrangements with respect to the control of major
accident hazards.
107 The major accident prevention document (MAPD) initially shall be

prepared during the design of the pipeline. Where there is a change in the fluid
conveyed which results in an existing non-major accident hazard pipeline
falling within the definition of a major accident hazard pipeline, then this will
21
require a reassessment of the pipeline design. The MAPD should be prepared
at this reassessment stage.
Major accident prevention document
108 The MAPD is a management tool to ensure that the operator has
assessed the risk from major accidents and has introduced an appropriate safety
management system to control those risks. The aim is that the document will
explain how the operator has established satisfactory management systems to
control the major accident hazards of the pipeline or pipeline system.
109 The MAPD can be made up of a number of documents. A covering

document may be prepared which need only be a short statement setting out
the health and safety arrangements with respect to the control of the major
accident hazards. This covering document should, however, refer to more
detailed documents which make up the MAPD. These will include the safety
management system detailing arrangements such as training procedures,
management responsibilities and auditing arrangements which set down how
that operator’s policy to control major accident hazards will be put into action.
It is important to recognise that safety management is an integral part of the
normal business management of an organisation.
110 The MAPD should contain sufficient information to demonstrate that all
hazards relating to the pipeline with the potential to cause a major accident
have been identified and the risks arising from those hazards have been
evaluated.
111 This requires the operator to identify the ways in which a major accident
may occur and to evaluate the risks arising from those hazards. Account will
need to be taken of hazards during the various stages of the life cycle of the
pipeline including commissioning, excursions from normal operating limits,
maintenance and any other activity which may affect the pipeline. This also
requires consideration of matters such as the nature of the dangerous fluid
being conveyed, the conditions under which it is conveyed and the
susceptibility of the pipeline system to damage.
112 Where appropriate, an operator can produce a single MAPD for all his
pipeline systems, rather than produce a separate MAPD for each individual
pipeline. The MAPD must reflect the hazards and risks associated with all the
major accident hazard pipelines covered by it and the supporting safety
management system should be applicable to all those pipelines.
Safety management system
113 The pipeline MAPD should be supported by the safety management

system which is in place for the control of the safety of the pipeline throughout
its life cycle from its concept design through to decommissioning. The safety
management system will need to consider the interfaces between the pipeline
design, construction, operation and maintenance. Key elements of safety
management are management’s leadership, commitment and accountability.
Both an adequate organisation and sufficient resources are necessary to
implement the operator’s policy with respect to the control of major accident
hazards effectively.
114 It will be necessary for the MAPD, and the associated management
arrangements, to be updated at various stages throughout the life cycle of the
pipeline. It is recognised that, for example, at the concept design stage, it may
not be practicable to describe future management procedures for controlling
risks to people during the operation of the pipeline.
22
115 A clear line of responsibility and accountability for the control of health
and safety needs to be established from the highest management down. As a
pipeline moves through the various stages of its life cycle, the line of command
and accountability might change; the basis for change and arrangements for
bringing it about should be set out in the safety management system.
116 The safety management system should cover the organisation and
arrangements for preventing, controlling and mitigating the consequences of
major accidents. These include specific attention to management competencies
and procedures necessary to minimise the possibility of these events and if they
occur, to limit their potential for causing harm. The safety management system
is likely to set out the management control and monitoring procedures to be
followed in critical areas such as:

ensuring that systems are in place to provide for the satisfactory co-
ordination of all those involved in the safety of the pipeline;
establishment of operating procedures for normal operation of the

pipeline as well as abnormal operation and non-routine operations;
communication of those procedures to relevant personnel, eg through

instructions, operating manuals, permits to work;
establishment of adequate systems for the selection, control and

monitoring the performance of contractors so that their working methods
and standards are such as to ensure the safety of their activities;
establishment of standards for training, for all people with a significant

role to play in the safety of the pipeline. This is likely to extend to the
highest levels of management and will also deal with training of those in
supporting roles such as engineers and contractors;
the procedures adopted for the systematic appraisal of the major accident
hazards associated with the pipeline and evaluation of the risks arising
from those hazards;
procedures for the planning of modifications to be made to the pipeline.
117 The importance of the arrangements for achieving the initial and
continuing safety of the pipeline requires that the safety management system
pay particular attention to these arrangements. These include the arrangements
for ensuring the soundness and fitness for purpose at the various stages in the
life cycle of the pipeline.
118 It will be necessary that suitable and sufficient records of a pipeline are
kept, including the design, construction, operation, and maintenance, so as to
be able to demonstrate that the pipeline is safe.
119 Specific arrangements for dealing with emergencies form part of the safety
management system. The emergencies to be addressed will result from the
hazard identification and risk assessment process. Having identified all types of
emergency events, plans and procedures should be prepared for dealing with
these. The preparation of emergency procedures is covered in regulation 24.
Audit
120 Once a systematic and formalised management approach to safety has

been implemented, it becomes necessary to audit the system performance. This
regulation requires that arrangements are in place for audits to be made of the
safety management system which address its adequacy in achieving the safety of
the pipeline. This requires a demonstration that there are clearly defined
23
systems for audit of the quality of the design, construction, operation, main-
tenance and finally decommissioning of the pipeline. As for other aspects of the
safety management system, performance standards for the audit and review
process should be set and monitored. The people carrying out the audits
should be sufficiently independent to ensure that such an audit is objective.
121 Auditing is referred to in HSE’s publication Successful health and safety

management as ‘the structured process of collecting independent information on
the efficiency, effectiveness and reliability of the total safety management
system and drawing up plans for corrective action’.
122 In order to provide the necessary independent perspective and to

maximise the benefits from the auditing process, audits should be carried out
by competent people outside the line management chain of the areas or
activities being audited.
123 Performance standards should be established to identify responsibilities,

timings, and systems for reviewing. To ensure effectiveness, those responsible
for implementing any remedial action should be clearly identified and deadlines
set for the completion of such action. Audit should be viewed by all within the
organisation as an opportunity to identify weaknesses in management control
or procedures.
124 The definition in the Offshore Installations and Pipeline Works

(Management and Administration) Regulations 1995 excludes pipelines,
nevertheless there is a provision for any part of a pipeline connected to an
installation and within 500 metres of the installation to be ‘deemed’ to be part
of that installation, which is appropriate when considering the safety of people
on the installation and possible consequences of a pipeline failure.
125 For the same reasons, offshore pipelines fall partly within the scope of the
offshore safety case regime. Under Schedules 1 and 2 of the Offshore
Installations (Safety Case) Regulations 1992 (SCR), the safety case must
demonstrate that full account has been taken of risks to the installation, and to
the people on it, arising from the pipeline. This entails, for any pipeline
connected to an installation, giving a description of the design and hydrocarbon
inventory of the pipeline demonstrating that an integrated approach will be
taken to the management of the installation and the pipeline so risks from a
major accident are at the lowest level that is reasonably practicable. The SCR
provisions regarding pipelines at the interface are not enough in themselves to
ensure the safe operation and integrity of offshore pipeline systems as a whole.
However, work done in the safety case to identify the safety critical elements of
a pipeline can be used in the pipeline MAPD.
Onshore Regulations
126 The Gas Safety (Management) Regulations 1996 (GS(M)R) are

concerned essentially with the safe management of the flow of gas through
public gas transporters’ networks. Those Regulations require a safety case to be
prepared which should contain sufficient information to demonstrate that the
transporter’s operation is safe, and that the risks to the public and employees
are as low as is reasonably practicable. Schedule 1 of those Regulations lists the
particulars to be included in the safety case. It is not intended that the
requirements of Schedule 1 of GS(M)R should duplicate those in the Pipelines
Safety Regulations 1996 (PSR).
24
127 There are some areas of unavoidable overlap between these two sets of
regulations, in particular the duties dealing with safety management systems
(the MAPD in PSR and the safety case in GS(M)R). Although PSR covers
safety management systems, such systems are concerned solely with pipeline
integrity and the consequences of its loss. In contrast GS(M)R is concerned
with the safe management of the supply of gas to users and the management of
the flow of gas. To minimise duplication, those parts of any documents which
are prepared under the requirements in PSR can be referenced in the GS(M)R
safety case.
Emergency procedures
(1) The operator shall ensure that no fluid is conveyed in a major accident
hazard pipeline unless -
(a) such appropriate organisation and arrangements as shall have effect; and
(b) the procedures which shall befollowed in different circumstances,
in the event of an emergency relating to the pipeline have been established and
recorded.
(2) The operator shall revise or replace the record of the organisation,
arrangements and procedures referred to in paragraph (1) as often as may be
appropriate.
(3) The operator shall ensure that the organisation, arrangements and
procedures referred to in paragraph (1) are tested, by practice or otherwise, as often as
may be appropriate.
128 This regulation requires that adequate emergency procedures are

prepared for dealing with the consequences of a major accident involving a
pipeline. The detail and scope of a major accident will vary according to the
pipeline, its location and the fluid conveyed and the operator will need to
consider these aspects when drawing up the emergency procedures.
129 The emergency procedures for an offshore pipeline should cover the
pipeline, as an entity, as well as the interface with offshore and onshore
installations. The plan should cover the procedures needed to respond to all
foreseeable major accidents involving a pipeline, ie it should set out who does
what, when and how and to what effect, in the event of an emergency. It
should describe arrangements at the interfaces with onshore and offshore
installations to ensure that they dovetail.
130 For onshore pipelines, it is important that the pipeline operator and local
authorities liaise to ensure that the emergency procedures and the local
authorities’ emergency plans are dovetailed in order to provide a
comprehensive and effective response to emergencies.
131 The emergency procedures should be kept in an up-to-date operational

state. They should be revised as necessary to ensure that they cater for any
changes in operation that might have a significant effect on the procedures.
132 Although this regulation does not specify the frequency at which tests
should be carried out, it is important that the procedures are exercised and
tested with sufficient frequency and depth so that they can be relied upon to
work effectively in an emergency. The procedures should be monitored and
25
reviewed in the light of exercises and tests and of any practical experiences
gained from operating the plan in a real emergency, and remedial action
identified and taken.
133 Regulation 8 of the Offshore Installations (Prevention of Fire and

Explosion, and Emergency Response) Regulations 1995 (PFEER) requires the
owner or operator of an installation to prepare an emergency response plan for
the installation after consulting with people likely to become involved in
emergency response. Consultees will include the pipeline operator, operators

and owners of other installations as necessary, for the plan to reflect agreement
about shutting down pipelines for emergency response. The relevant parts of
the pipeline emergency procedures required by the Pipelines Safety Regulations
1996 and the emergency response plan prepared through the requirement in
PFEER should be compatible.
Emergency plans in case of major accidents

(1) A local authority which has been notified by the Executive that there is, or
is to be a major accident hazard pipeline in its area shall before the pipeline is first
used or within 9 months of such notification, whichever is later, and subject to
paragraph (5), prepare an adequate plan detailing how an emergency relating to a
possible major accident in its area will be dealt with.
(2) In preparing the plan pursuant to paragraph (1) a local authority shall
consult the operator of the pipeline, the Executive and any other persons as appear to
the authority to be appropriate.
(3) A local authority which has prepared a plan pursuant to paragraph (1)
shall, as often as is appropriate and, in any case, at least every three years review the
plan and make such revision as is appropriate.
(4) The operator of a major accident hazard pipeline shall ensure that eve y
local authority through whose area the pipeline will pass is furnished promptly with
such information as it may reasonably require in preparing the plan referred to in
paragraph (1).
(5) It shall be deemed to be sufficient compliance with the requirement in

paragraph (1) as to the time by which a plan is to be prepared, where such time is
exceeded by reason of waiting for information referred to in paragraph (4) which has
been promptly required.
(6) Where a pipeline passes or is to pass through the areas of two or more local
authorities the duties under this regulation may be discharged by them where they
prepare a single plan.
134 Local authorities at county or equivalent level, once notified of a pipeline

by HSE, are required by this regulation to prepare an emergency plan for each
major accident hazard pipeline passing through their area. The requirement
under these Regulations is for emergency plans which should specifically relate
to the protection of the health and safety of people, not environmental damage.
135 Though local authorities will already have general emergency plans, it will
be necessary to have either pipeline specific plans or to include specific
reference to each major accident pipeline and how their emergency
26
arrangements are integrated into the existing emergency provisions in the area
covered by the authority.
136 It is intended that emergency plans should only be drawn up or amended

after consultation with bodies who may be able to contribute information or
advice. In all cases this will include the emergency services (fire, police and
ambulance), hospitals, the pipeline operators and HSE. Other bodies to be
consulted will depend on circumstances and could include adjacent local
authorities through whose area the pipeline passes, government departments
dealing with agriculture, the Environment Agency or its Scottish equivalent,
the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, and companies providing water
services.
137 Full liaison and effective two-way flow of information is required between
the pipeline operator and the local authority. Information from the pipeline
operator is needed to enable the authority to draw up the emergency plan, and
information from the authority should be available to the pipeline operator to
assist in the preparation of the pipeline emergency procedures so as to achieve
dovetailing between the pipeline emergency procedures and the local
authority’s emergency plan.
138 The pipeline operator should provide information about the type and
consequences of possible major accidents and the likely effects. Information
should also be provided on the route of the pipeline, the fluid conveyed and the
operating conditions, location of shut-off valves and emergency control
arrangements.
139 In the event of an incident involving a pipeline, it is important there is

effective communication between the emergency services and pipeline control
centre.
140 The emergency plan should be a written document, in a format which

can be used readily in emergencies, and kept up to date to reflect changes in
risk, procedures, hardware and personnel. The authors of the plan must
address all relevant aspects including the following:
(a) the types of accidents to people to be taken into account;
(b) organisations involved including key personnel and responsibilities and

liaison arrangements between them;
(c) communication links including telephones, radios and standby methods;
(d) special equipment including fire-fighting materials, damage control and

repair items;
(e) technical information such as chemical and physical characteristics and

dangers of the fluid conveyed;
(f) information about the pipeline including route of the pipeline, location of
shut-off valves and emergency control arrangements;
(g) evacuation arrangements;
(f) contacts and arrangements for obtaining further advice and assistance, eg
meteorological information, transport, first aid and hospital services,
water and agricultural information;
(i) arrangements for dealing with the press and other media interests.
141 Since an incident involving a pipeline could occur at any point along its
length, it is often inappropriate to provide location specific advice along the
27
whole length of the pipeline. The plan is likely to focus on those parts of the
pipeline which are vulnerable to damage such as road, rail and river crossings
and other areas of higher risk. Pipeline plans for this reason are likely to be
generic and flexible in nature.
142 In discharging their duties, local authorities must take reasonable steps to
ensure that they are preparing plans which will prove adequate in the event of
major accidents. This will involve checking and testing the various components
of each plan during its development.
143 The local authority shall review, and where necessary, revise and update
the plan at suitable intervals so that it can be relied upon to work effectively in
an emergency. The maximum interval for review should be every three years.
144 For existing pipelines, local authorities are allowed 18 months from
notification of the pipeline to prepare the major accident hazard emergency
plans (see regulation 27(6)).
145 For all new pipelines, the plan is required before the pipeline is brought
into use, or within 9 months of notification of the pipeline to the local authority
by HSE, whichever is the later.
Charge by a local authority for a plan

(1) A local authority which prepares, reviews or revises a plan pursuant to
paragraph (1) or (3) of regulation 25 may charge a fee, determined in accordance
with paragraphs (2) to (4), to the operator of the pipeline to which the plan relates.
(2) A fee shall not exceed the sum of the costs reasonably incurred by the local
authority in preparing, reviewing or revising the plan and, where the plan covers
pipelines of which there are more than one operator, thefee charged to each operator
shall not exceed the proportion of such sum attributable to the part or parts of the plan
relating to hispipelines.
(3) In determining the fee no account shall be taken of costs other than the
costs of dischargingfunctions in relation to those parts of the plan which relate to the
protection of health or safety ofpersons and which were costs incurred after the coming
into force of these Regulations.
(4) The local authority may determine the cost of employing a graded officer
for any period on work appropriate to his grade by reference to the average cost to it of
employing officers of his grade for that period.
(5) When requiring payment the local authority shall send or give to the
operator of the pipeline a detailed statement of the work done and costs incurred
including the date of any visit to any place and the period to which the statement
relates; and thefee, which shall be recoverable only as a civil debt, shall become
payable one month after the statement has been sent or given.
146 This regulation enables the local authorities who are responsible for
preparing and keeping up-to-date emergency plans required under regulation
25 to recover the cost of undertaking this work from the pipeline operator.
147 The local authority may only recover costs that have been reasonably
incurred. There may be locations where several pipelines are co-located, so the
local authority may decide to prepare one emergency plan covering all the
pipelines. In such an event each pipeline operator should be charged for only
that part of the costs which can be attributed to the pipeline under his control.
28
148 The charge made may only be for the cost of preparing the plan itself and
of any changes necessary to keep it up to date. It does not cover the cost of
emergency equipment (eg fire appliances) considered necessary for the
operation of the plan. Furthermore, the charge should relate only to those parts
of the emergency plan concerned with the health and safety of people, not with
environmental damage.
149 The charge made may be based on the time spent by officers of
appropriate grades. The average costs of their employment overheads as well as
salary may be taken into account.
150 In presenting a charge to a pipeline operator, the local authority should

provide an itemised, detailed statement of work done and cost incurred. Any
dispute arising over the charge has to be decided in the civil courts. HSE has
no enforcement role for the recovery of cost incurred by a local authority in
respect of emergency planning.
Transitional provision
(1) In the case of a pipeline, the construction of which is commenced within 6
months after the coming into force of these Regulations, it shall be sufficient
compliance with regulation 20 if the particulars specified in Schedule 4 are notified to
the Executive within 3 months after the coming into force of these Regulations.
151 For major accident hazard pipelines where the construction is

commenced within 6 months of these Regulations coming into force, the
information required in regulation 20 and Schedule 4 should be notified to
HSE within 3 months.
(2) Subject to paragraph (3), in the case of a major accident hazard pipeline,
the construction of which was commenced (and whether or not completed) before the
coming into force of these Regulations the particulars specified in Schedule 4 (or, in
the case ofparagraphs 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8 particulars, where appropriate, of the actual
route of the pipeline or of the riser, materials used, fluid conveyed, and the temperature
and pressure, and maximum rate of flow of that fluid) shall be notified to the
Executive within 6 months after such coming into force.
(3) Paragraph (2) shall have effect where, pursuant to regulation 3(1) of the
Notification of Installations Handling Hazardous Substances Regulations 1982(a),
the particulars relating to that pipeline specified in Part II of Schedule 2 to those
Regulations have been supplied before such coming intoforce.
(a) SI 1982/1357.
152 For existing major accident hazard pipelines, or ones under construction,
the information required by regulation 18 of Schedule 4 should be notified to
HSE within 6 months of the Regulations coming into force, unless the pipeline
has been notified to HSE through the notification requirement in the
Notification of Installations Handling Hazardous Substances Regulations 1982.
(4) In the case of a pipeline, the design of which was completed before the
coming into force of these Regulations, or within 12 months after such coming into
force, regulation 23 shall have effect as if, for the words “before the design ofa major
accident hazard pipeline is completed” in paragraph (1) of that regulation there were
substituted the words “within 12 months after the coming into force of these
Regulations”.
29
153 Where a major accident prevention document (regulation 23) is required
for existing major accident hazard pipelines and for proposed new pipelines,
where the concept design will be completed within 12 months of the
Regulations coming into force, the MAPD should be in place by 11 April 1997.
(5) In the case of a pipeline which was first used before the coming into force
of these Regulations it shall be sufficient compliance with the requirement in regulation
24(1) where the matters referred to therein are recorded within 6 months after the
coming into force of these Regulations.
154 For existing major accident hazard pipelines, the emergency procedures
should be in place within 6 months of the Regulations coming into force.
(6) Where a local authority receives a notification referred to in paragraph

(1) of regulation 25 within 6 months after the coming into force of these Regulations,
that regulation shall have effect in relation to the pipeline notified as if the reference in
that paragraph to 9 months were a reference to 18 months.
155 For existing pipelines a local authority, once notified of a major accident
hazard pipeline, is allowed 18 months to prepare its emergency plan.
Part IV Miscellaneous
Defence
(1) In any proceedings for an offence for a contravention of any of the
provisions of these Regulations it shall, subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), be a
defence for the person charged to prove -
(a) that the commission of the offence was due to the act or default of another
person not being one ofhis employees (hereinafter called “the other
person”); and
(b) that he took all reasonable precautions and exercised all due diligence to
avoid the commission of the offence.
(2) The person charged shall not, without leave of the court, be entitled to rely
on the defence in paragraph (1) unless, within a period ending seven clear days -
(a) before the hearing to determine mode oftrial, where the proceedings are in
England or Wales; or
(b) before the trial, where the proceedings are in Scotland,
he has served on the prosecutor a notice in writing giving such information identifying
or assisting in the identification of the other person as was then in his possession.
(3) For the purpose of enabling the other person to be charged with and
convicted of the offence by virtue of section 36 of the 1974 Act, a person who
establishes a defence under this regulation shall nevertheless be treatedfor the purposes
of that section as having committed the offence.
156 It shall be the operator’s responsibility to ensure that any other person
contracted to perform work does what is required in helping to meet the legal
obligation set by these Regulations. The operator will therefore need to put in
place suitable arrangements to ensure proper performance of functions
required under these Regulations. Regulation 28(1) offers a defence in legal
30
proceedings, if it can be shown that a contravention of the Regulations is due
to an act or default of another person and the operator exercised all due
diligence. It should be noted that where the commission of an offence is due to
the act or default of another person, HSE has powers, through section 36 of the
Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 (HSW Act), to prosecute the other
person.
Certificates o f exemption
(1) Subject to paragraph (2) and to any of the provisions imposed by the
Communities in respect of the encouragement of improvements in the safety and health

of workers at work, the Executive may, by a certificate in writing, exempt any person,
pipeline or class of persons or pipelines from any requirement or prohibition imposed by
these Regulations and any such exemption may be granted subject to conditions and
with or without limit of time and may be revoked by a certificate in writing at any
time.
(2) The Executive shall not grant any such exemption unless, having regard
to the circumstances of the case and, in particular, to -
(a) the conditions, if any, which it proposes to attach to the exemption; and
(b) any other requirements imposed by or under any enactments which apply
to the case,
it is satisfied that the health and safety of persons who are likely to be affected by the
exemption will not be prejudiced in consequence of it.
Repeal o f provisions o f the Pipe-lines Act 1962
Sections 20 to 26, 27 to 32 and 42 of the Pipe-lines Act 1 962(a) are hereby repealed.
(a) 1962 e. 58; section 24 was repealed by SI 1974/1986; and section 26A was inserted by section 26 of the
Petroleum Act 1987 (1987 c. 12).
157 This regulation sets o u t the sections o f the Pipelines A c t 1962 (PA62)
w h i c h are repealed by these Regulations. These sections are relevant statutory
provisions o f the H S W Act. Safety notices served b y H S E u n d e r P A 6 2 d o n o t
apply after these Regulations come i n t o force.
158 Section 37 o f P A 6 2 w h i c h requires notifications o f certain pipeline

accidents t o the emergency services etc. is n o t b e i n g repealed by these
regulations since this section covers notifications w h i c h m a y include
environmental effects such as p o l l u t i o n o f water.
Revocation and modification o f instruments
(1) The instruments specified in column 1 of Part I of Schedule 6 shall be

revoked to the extent specified in column 3 of that Part.
(2) The Notification of Installations Handling Hazardous Substances

Regulations (“the 1982 Regulations,'’shall have effect subject to the modifications of
those Regulations specified in Part 11 of Schedule 6.
31
159 This regulation sets out the revocations and modification of statutory
instruments associated with these Regulations and also listed in Schedule 6.
160 The Notification of Installations Handling Hazardous Substances

Regulations 1982 have been modified to remove the requirement to notify
certain pipelines to HSE contained in those Regulations.
32
Pipelines to which these Regulations do not apply
Regulation 4(2)
1 A pipeline for the conveyance of air, water vapour or steam,
2 A pipeline for the conveyance of water, other than for the purpose of injecting
water into an underwater well or reservoir containing mineral resources.
3 A pipeline contained wholly within the premises occupied by a single

undertaking.
4 A pipeline which is contained wholly within land which constitutes a railway

asset within the meaning of section 6(2) of the Railways Act 1993(a).
5 A pipeline contained wholly within a caravan site.
6 In this Schedule “caravan” and “caravan site” have the same meaning as they
have in Part I of the Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960(b).
(a) 1993 c. 43.

(b) 1960 c. 62; the meaning of “caravan” in Part I was modified by the Caravan Sites Act 1968 (c.52),
section 13(1) and (2).
161 This Schedule sets out pipelines to which the Regulations do not apply.
Pipelines wholly within premises are excluded from the scope of these
Regulations.
162 These Regulations do not apply to pipelines contained wholly within

caravan sites. In general the pipelines excluded by this paragraph will be LPG
gas pipelines which convey gas from a gas tank situated in the caravan site to
caravans on the site.
163 Pipelines used as part of the railway infrastructure are also excluded from
the scope of these Regulations. However, this exclusion only applies to
pipelines used as part of the railway infrastructure; other pipelines on railway
land, not forming part of the railway infrastructure, come within the scope of
these Regulations.
164 Pipelines which convey water are excluded from the scope of these
Regulations except offshore where they convey water for high pressure water
injection purposes.
Descriptions of dangerous fluids

Regulations 18(2) and 27(3)
1 A fluid which -
(a) is flammable in air;
(b) has a boiling point below 5°C, at 1 bar absolute; and
(c) is or is to be conveyed in the pipeline as a liquid.
2 A fluid which is flammable in air and is or is to be conveyed in the pipeline as a

gas at above 8 bar absolute.
33
3 A liquid which has a vapour pressure greater than 1.5 bar absolute when in
equilibrium with its vapour at either the actual temperature of the liquid or at 20°C.
4 A toxic or very toxic fluid which -
(a) is a gas at 20°C and 1 bar absolute; and
(b) is, or is to be, conveyed as a liquid or a gas.
5 A toxic fluid which -
(a) at 20°C has a saturated vapour pressure greater than 0.4 bar; and
(b) is, or is to be, conveyed in the pipeline as a liquid.
6 Acrylonitrile.
7 A very toxic fluid which -
(a) at 20°C has a saturated vapour pressure greater than 0.001 bar; or
(b) is, or is to be, conveyed in the pipeline as a liquid at a pressure greater

than 4.5 bar absolute.
8 An oxidising fluid which is, or is to be, conveyed as a liquid.
9 A fluid which reacts violently with water.
10 For the purposes of this Schedule -
(a) a liquid is oxidising; and
(b) a fluid is toxic or very toxic, or reacts violently with water,
if it has been, or is liable to be classified, pursuant to regulation 5 of the Chemicals

(Hazard Information and Packaging for Supply) Regulations 1994(a), as the case
may be, oxidising, toxic, very toxic or reacts violently with water.
(a) SI 1994/3247.
165 This Schedule sets out the dangerous fluids which determine the
application of the more stringent additional duty requirements of regulations
19 to 27. These duties apply to pipelines conveying fluids in such conditions
which are considered to have the potential to cause a major accident (as
referred to in regulation 18).
166 In general the Schedule applies generic categories for the application of
the Regulations. This Schedule lists the categories of fluids and, where
appropriate, the conditions and pressures under which they are transported. It
is not considered appropriate to include the concept of qualifying quantities for
a pipeline.
167 Paragraph 1 of Schedule 2 covers liquefied gases which are flammable in

air when they are conveyed as a liquid. This includes butane and propane when
conveyed in a pipeline as a liquid.
168 Paragraph 2 of Schedule 2 is applicable to flammable gases conveyed as a

gas. In such cases the additional duties only apply when the flammable gas is
conveyed at a pressure in excess of 8 bar absolute. This covers such fluids as
methane, butane and propane when conveyed as a gas.
34
169 Mixtures of gas and liquid which have a vapour pressure in excess of 0.5
bar above atmospheric pressure when in equilibrium with its vapour are
included. The intention is that this will cover pipelines conveying spiked crude
which could have a considerable vapour pressure associated with it as well as
pipelines which could be conveying fluids with a presence of sour gases. To
determine whether the fluid attracts the additional duties, it is necessary to
establish whether the gaseous element will separate out from the liquid with
time to produce a pressure in excess of 1.5 bar absolute. The definition thus
excludes stabilised crude oils in which the vapour pressure of the dissolved gas
is suppressed by the lower vapour pressure of other constituents.
170 Acrylonitrile when conveyed in a pipeline is deemed by these Regulations

to be a dangerous fluid. Although only classified by regulation 5 in the

Chemicals (Hazard Information and Packaging for Supply) Regulations 1994
(CHIP 2) as toxic, it has the potential to cause a major accident hazard and
therefore the requirements of regulations 19 to 27 apply to pipelines conveying
this fluid.
171 For the purposes of these Regulations, the categorisations of oxidising,

toxic, very toxic or reacts violently with water are derived from regulation 5 in
the Chemicals (Hazard Information and Packaging for Supply) Regulations
1994 (CHIP 2).
172 Toxic and very toxic gases when conveyed either as a liquid or a gas will
attract the additional duties. This covers pipelines conveying ammonia,
bromine, chlorine etc.
173 Toxic liquids pipelines are only considered to possess a major accident
potential when the substance is sufficiently volatile. For this reason, only toxic
liquids conveyed in a pipeline as a liquid with a saturated vapour pressure in
excess of 0.4 bar absolute will attract the additional duties.
174 Very toxic liquids are similarly only considered to possess a major
accident potential when either the liquid is sufficiently volatile or when the
liquid is conveyed in the pipeline above a certain pressure. For instance, a fluid
such as phenol is not sufficiently volatile to attract the additional duties unless
conveyed at a pressure in excess of 4.5 bar absolute. Above this pressure it is
likely that the liquid will be pumped rather than conveyed under a padding
pressure.
175 Fluids classified as oxidising are considered to have a major hazard

potential but only when conveyed as liquid. This would cover organic
peroxides but would exclude gaseous oxygen.
176 Other fluids which are considered to have the potential to cause a major
accident hazard are substances which are assigned the risk phrase 14 ‘reacts
violently with water’. This generic category covers substances such as oleum
and acid chlorides such as chlorosulphonic acids.
35
Requirements for emergency shut-down valves on
certain major accident hazard pipelines connected
to offshore installations
Regulation 19
1 An emergency shut-down valve shall be incorporated in the riser of a pipeline -
(a) in a position in which it can be safely inspected, maintained and tested;

and
(b) so far as is consistent with sub-paragraph (a), as far down the riser as is
reasonably practicable;
and such valve shall comply with the remaining paragraphs of this Schedule.
2 An emergency shut-down valve shall be held open by an electrical, hydraulic or

other signal to the mechanism for actuating the valve on the failure of which signal the
valve shall automatically close.
3 An emergency shut-down valve shall also be capable of being closed -
(a) by a person positioned by it; and
(b) automatically by the operation of the emergency shut-down system of the

offshore installation to which the pipeline is connected,
or, while relevant work of examination or maintenance is being carried out, by one of
those means.
4 If the pipeline is designed to allow for the passage of equipment for inspecting,
maintaining or testing the pipeline, the emergency shut-down valve shall also be
designed to allow for such passage.
5 An emergency shut-down valve and its actuating mechanism shall so far as is

reasonably practicable be protected from damage arising from fire, explosion or
impact.
6 An emergency shut-down valve shall be maintained in an efficient state, in

efficient working order and in good repair.
7 After an emergency shut-down valve has operated so as to block the flow of fluid
within the pipeline it shall not be re-opened so as to permit the flow of fluid until steps
have been taken to ensure that it is safe to do so.
9 In this Schedule “emergency shut-down system” means the system comprising

mechanical, electrical, electronic, pneumatic, hydraulic or other arrangements by
which the plant on an offshore installation is automatically shut down in the event of
an emergency.
177 This Schedule sets out the requirements for emergency shut-down valves
(ESDVs) on risers which are part of major accident hazard pipelines of 40 mm
or more internal diameter at offshore installations under regulation 19.
178 This Schedule requires every riser of 40 mm or more internal diameter

which forms part of a major accident hazard pipeline be fitted with an
emergency shut-down valve and that the valve is maintained in good working
order.
36
179 The ESDV should be located so that the distance along the riser between
the valve and the base of the riser is as low as reasonably practicable, in order
that the most vulnerable section of the riser can be isolated from the majority of
the pipeline inventory. However, it is equally important that the ESDV can be
safely maintained and tested so that it can function properly. It follows that it is
important to locate the ESDV above the highest wave crest which can
reasonably be anticipated so that the valve can be tested and maintained.
180 Where flexible risers are used, the ESDV should be located on the in-
board side of the quick connect/disconnect couplings (QCDC), if fitted, and
above the highest wave crest which can reasonably be anticipated.
181 The ESDV location, design, testing, maintenance and operation should
ensure that the ESDV will at all times operate on demand or fail-safe in the
closed position, so minimising the possibility of an uncontrolled release of the
pipeline inventory. Once closed the ESDV should not be reopened until the
safety of the installation and connected installations is assured.
182 The ESDV should be capable of stopping the flow of the fluid within the
pipeline. However, this disregards minor leakage past the ESDV which cannot
represent a threat to safety. The operator should make an assessment of the
maximum internal rate that can be tolerated. The rate of leakage should be
based on the installation’s ability to control safely the hazards produced by
such a leak.
183 ESDVs should be rapid-acting isolation valves, capable of being operated

remotely by the operation of the associated installation’s emergency shut-down
system or locally by a person positioned by it.
184 Where maintenance or examination of the ESDV is being carried out

which involves disabling one of the two actuation systems while the work is
being undertaken, this is permissible provided that once the work is completed
both the actuating mechanisms are returned to full working order.
185 If the pipeline of which the riser forms part has been designed to allow the
passage of equipment, such as pigs for inspection etc, the ESDV should be
designed to allow the passage of that equipment. For example, in the case of a
piggable pipeline system, the ESDV should also be piggable and therefore a
ball or gate valve is likely to be used.
186 The valve and its actuating mechanism are required to be protected, so
far as is reasonably practicable, against fire, explosion and impact. The aim is
that, under all foreseeable conditions, the ESDV should be capable of closing
fail-safe. The extent of the protection system should at least cover the ESDV,
its actuator and any components required for fail-safe closure of the valve.
187 In order to define the type and extent of fire protection required the
operator will need to consider the type, severity and duration of anticipated
fires as well as the minimum duration for which the integrity and operability of
equipment to be protected must be maintained.
188 It is not usually reasonably practicable to afford protection against all the
effects of an explosion in the immediate vicinity of an ESDV. In general
explosion protection is best achieved by locating the ESDV well outside
congested equipment modules.
189 Regulation 5 of the Offshore Installations (Prevention of Fire and

Explosion, and Emergency Response) Regulations 1995 (PFEER) requires the
37
owner or operator of an installation to carry out an assessment of the major
accident hazards involving fire or explosion, and to identify appropriate
arrangements to deal with them. The information about major accident
hazards and the measures taken to reduce risks in this regulation can be used to
demonstrate that the ESDV is capable of adequately blocking the flow of fluid
within the pipeline riser in the Pipelines Safety Regulations 1996.
Particulars to be included in notification relating

to construction of a major accident hazard pipeline
Regulations 20 and 27 (1) and (2)
1 The name and address of the operator of the pipeline.
2 The proposed route of the pipeline in the form of maps or drawings.
3 The proposed route of the riser on any offshore installation, in the form of
drawings.
4 The length, diameter and wall thickness of the pipeline.
5 The materials to be used in the construction of the pipeline.
6 The fluid to be conveyed and such of its properties as are relevant to health and
safety.
7 The safe operating limits of the pipeline.
8 The intended temperature, pressure, and maximum rate of flow of the fluid to be
conveyed.
190 This Schedule sets out the information to be included under regulation
20. This notification may form the first contact between the pipeline operator
and HSE; earlier contact may be helpful. This ‘end of concept design’
notification should be made at a point where the design is sufficiently well
enough advanced to be able to set out, in general terms, the particulars
required in this Schedule but not so late that the company has already
committed major expenditure.
191 Only a limited amount of information about the pipeline is required at

this notification stage. This notification is aimed at triggering HSE’s inspection
arrangements and it will provide the basis for the start of a dialogue between
the pipeline operator and HSE about arrangements to secure the safety of the
pipeline. The intention behind this notification is to ensure that HSE is made
aware of the proposed pipeline before major expenditure has been committed,
since it is at this early stage that the most recent and best practice of design,
and use of materials, can be applied at least cost. Where some of the
information cannot, at the time of notification, be fully specified, notification to
HSE should go ahead together with details of when the further information
may be provided, by agreement between the operator and HSE. The
information that is supplied will help HSE to form a view on appropriate
inspection arrangements.
192 The information to be supplied need only represent the particulars as far
as they have been developed by this stage. It is likely that there may be minor
changes to the information, but where the changes are significant to the level of
risk of the pipeline, these further details should be supplied to HSE.
38
Particulars to be notified before certain events
relating to major accident hazard pipelines
Regulation 22(2) and (3)
1 In relation to a change to the route or position of a pipeline, particulars in the

form of maps or drawings of the new route or position.
2 In relation to a change to the safe operating limits of a pipeline, particulars of

suchchange.
3 In relation to the start of major modification or major remedial work to the

pipeline, particulars ofsuch work.
4 In relation to the conveyance of a new fluid, particulars of -
(a) such of its properties as are relevant to the health or safety ofpersons; and
(b) the intended or (if, in a case to which regulation 22(3) applies,

conveyance has started) actual temperature, pressure and maximum rate
of flow in the pipeline.
5 In relation to the start of decommissioning or dismantlement of the pipeline,

particulars of the steps to be taken or (if, in a case to which regulation 22(3) applies,
decommissioning or dismantlement has started) taken in connection with such
decommissioningordismantlement.
193 These notifications concern changes to a major accident hazard pipeline,

its operation or environment which may have an effect on the pipeline integrity
or level of risk from, or to, that pipeline.
194 This would include prior notification of changes to the position of a

pipeline, design intent (including change of use), safe operating regime, end of
use or any change in the level of risk for any reason.
195 There is a clear distinction between pipeline works which involve risks to
those actually carrying out the work and changes to the pipeline which could
affect the level of pipeline risk. These notifications are not intended to include
notification of pipeline works.
196 The level of pipeline risk can be affected or altered due to a number
changes, some of which are similar to those principal items used at the
notification of construction activities:
route or position;
service conditions;
pipeline materials and equipment.
Changes in position or route
197 The proximity of a major accident hazard pipeline relative to occupied

buildings or with respect to its position on an offshore installation is a safety
critical item and has a significant impact on risk levels. For example,
notifications would be required for changes to:
the route or position of a pipeline, including pipeline diversions because

of new developments or encroachments and for tie-ins to new
installations, other pipelines, etc;
39
the route or position of pipeline risers on offshore installations including
diversions to separate riser platforms.
Changes in fluid composition or type
198 If the range of properties of the conveyed fluid is expected to change from
those specified or anticipated at the original design stage, then those changes
are notifiable. Pipelines may be initially designed to transport one type of
substance or fluid, but there may come a time when there is a requirement to
use the pipeline for other purposes, eg to change from oil production to water
injection (to increase field life), from oil to gas, etc. The composition of a fluid
may change significantly during the life of a field development, eg from sweet
to sour gas or oil, which may or may not have been taken into account at the
initial design stage.
Changes in safe operating limits
199 Changes in the maximum allowable operating pressure (MOP) of a

pipeline, whether temporary or permanent, are notifiable. Where a pipeline
MOP may have to be temporarily or permanently lowered following damage
to the pipeline or because of developments in close proximity to the pipeline,
this information should be notified to HSE.
200 A pipeline MAOP may need to be raised above the original design
pressure in some cases. If this is proposed, it will probably have significant
implications on the pipeline integrity and risk levels which must be fully
evaluated.
End of use of a pipeline
201 Notification would be required of plans to decommission on a long-term

basis, ‘moth-ball’ or finally decommission a pipeline.
Changes in pipeline materials and equipment
202 Notifications should be made where there are changes to critical

dimensions (wall thickness, diameter) of a pipeline such as installation of
thicker-walled pipe sections for protection or proximity infringements.
203 Replacement of pipelines or sections of pipelines (eg due to severe

damage or corrosion) should be notified where the new material is different
from the existing material. Steels of a different standard or strength may have
been selected or materials may be changed from ‘hard’ pipe to flexible or
composite pipeline sections (or vice versa).
What is not notifiable?
204 Notification to HSE need not be made for:
any changes to pipeline not defined as a major accident hazard pipeline,

unless that change results in that pipeline falling under the additional
duties, eg change of use from conveying a low hazard fluid, such as
stabilised crude oil, to an extremely flammable liquid or flammable gas;
repairs to a pipeline following a reportable dangerous occurrence under

the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences
Regulations 1995 (FUDDOR);
replacement on a like-for-like basis of components or sections of a

pipeline, including flexible riser and pipeline replacement on a planned
basis;
40
minor adjustments to the pipeline operating system (control systems, leak
detection, etc);
running repairs (slight surface damage repairs, coating and wrapping

repairs, rectification of spans, replacement of cathodic protection systems,
repairs to protective slabbing or concrete mattresses, etc);
routine inspection and maintenance work and the results of any surveys
and changes to the inspection and maintenance scheme;
pigging operations both routine and special operations, eg on-line

inspection using intelligent pigs;
retesting of pipelines for leak tightness.
Revocation and modification

Regulation 31
Part I Revocation of instruments
1 2 3
Title Reference Extent of revocation
The Gas Safety Regulations SI 1972/1178 The whole Regulations

1972
The Gas (Metrication) SI 1990/1851 Regulation 3(1)
Regulations 1980
The Submarine Pipe-lines SI 1982/1513 The whole Regulations
Safety Regulations 1982 except regulations 1 (1)
and 11
The Submarine Pipe-lines SI 1986/1985 The whole Regulations
Safety (Amendment) Regulations
1986
The Offshore Installations SI 1989/1029 The whole Regulations
(Emergency Pipe-line Valve)
Regulations 1989
The Submarine Pipe-lines SI 1991/680 Regulation 3
(Inspectors and Safety)
(Amendment) Regulations
1991
Part II Modification of the Notification of Installations Handling

Hazardous Substances Regulations 1982
1 In the definition of “installation” in paragraph (1) of regulation 2

(interpretation) of the 1982 Regulations the words “or pipe-line” shall be omitted.
2 In regulation 3 (notification of installations handling hazardous substances) of

the 1982 Regulations -
(a) in paragraph (1) the words -
41
(i) “or in any pipe-line to which paragraph (4) applies’: and
(ii) “the appropriate part of” shall be omitted; and
(b) paragraph (4) shall be revoked.
3 In regulation 4 (updating of the notification following changes in the notifiable

activity) of the 1982 Regulations the words “or in the pipe-line” shall be omitted.
4 In regulation 5 (re-notification where the quantity of a substance is increased

to 3 times that already notified) of the 1982 Regulations the words “of Part I” shall
be omitted.
5 In Schedule 2 of the 1982 Regulations -
(a) the title “Part I” shall be omitted; and
(b) Part 1I shall be revoked.
42
Printe d an d publishe d by th e Healt h an d Safet y Executive

C50
5/96

Pipeline H&amp;S Requirement

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Pipeline H&amp;S Requirement

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Licensed copy from CIS: bveurope, Black & Veatch Ltd, 31/10/2012, Uncontrolled Copy.

A single copy of this document is licensed to

This is an uncontrolled copy. Ensure use of the

Safety Regulations 1996

ISBN 0 7176 1182 5

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may

This guidance is issued by the Health and Safety

Cover photograph courtesy of AMEC plc and

Regulation 5 Design of a pipeline 9

Part III Major accident hazard pipelines 17

Schedule 1 Pipelines to which these Regulations do not apply 33

It is important that effects on the environment are considered at all stages in

Most large onshore pipeline projects require an assessment to be carried out

Environmental aspects of offshore pipelines are addressed in the Pipelines

Information on design and construction

2 The Pipelines Safety Regulations (referred to as ‘the Regulations’ in this

3 The Regulations complement other onshore and offshore regulations.

(a) the definition of a pipeline;

(b) the general duties for all pipelines;

(c) the need for co-operation among pipeline operators;

(d) arrangements to prevent damage to pipelines;

(e) consequential amendments to other regulations (eg repeal of sections of

and for major accident hazard pipelines they cover:

(f) the description of a dangerous fluid;

(g) the requirement for emergency shut-down valves (ESDVs) at offshore

(h) the notifications structure;

(i) the major accident prevention document;

(j) the arrangements for emergency plans;

(k) the transitional arrangements.

Scope of the Regulations

4 The Regulations apply to all pipelines in Great Britain, and to all

Citation and commencement

“dangerous fluid” has the meaning given by regulation 18(2);

5 The definition of dangerous fluid in the Regulations is widely drawn; the

“emergency shut-down valve” means a valve which is capable of adequately blocking

6 Regulation 19 requires emergency shut-down valves (ESDVs) to be fitted

“the Executive” means the Health and Safety Executive;

“fluid” includes a mixture of fluids;

“local authority” means -

(a) in relation to England, a county council, a council having the functions of

(b) in relation to Scotland, the councilfor a local government area; and

(c) in relation to Wales, a county council or a county borough council;

7 Regulations 25 and 26 relate to emergency plans to be prepared by local

“major accident” means death or serious injury involving a dangerous fluid;

8 The term ‘major accident’ appears in a number of places in these

10 A ‘major accident hazard pipeline’ is one which conveys a dangerous fluid

“operator”, in relation to apipeline means -

12 Until the person who is to have control of the conveyance of fluid is

“pipeline” shall be construed in accordance with regulation 3.

(2) Unless the contextotherwise requires, any reference in these Regulations to -

(a) a numbered regulation or Schedule is a reference to the regulation or

(b) a numbered paragraph is reference to the paragraph so numbered in the

(a) a drain or sewer;

(b) a pipe or system ofpipes constituting or comprised in apparatus for heating

(2) The apparatus and works referred to in paragraph (1) are -

incorporated in the course of, the pipe or system;

13 This regulation defines what is meant by a pipeline. Drains and sewers

14 These Regulations do not apply to pipelines which form part of control

16 These Regulations cover pipelines used for the conveyance of fluid.

17 Regulation 3(3) defines the interface between plant, an offshore

18 Figures 1 to 7 give examples of different interfaces and illustrate the limits

21 On an offshore installation the limit of the pipeline is up to and including

22 Although apparatus for inducing or facilitating flow is included in the

(5) In this regulation -

Pipeline H&S Requirement

Pipeline H&S Requirement